PETpla.net Insider 03 / 2021

9 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 22 No. 03/21 www.petpla.net EU beverage packaging aims to be fully circular by 2030 Unesda Soft Drinks Europe pledges that EU (incl. Norway, Switzerland and the UK) primary beverage packaging will be fully circular by 2030. Launching its Circular Packaging Vision 2030, the industry commits that by 2025 its packaging will be 100% recyclable and its PET bottles using 50% recycled con- tent. Its ambition is that by 2030, its PET bottles will be made from 100% recycled and/or renewable PET, where technically and economically feasible. It also pledges that more than 90% of its packaging will be collected and that it will use more refill- able packaging. These actions are directly contributing to the EU circular economy transition and surpassing EU targets set out in legislation. A circular packaging is designed to contain recycled content, is recyclable and possibly also reusable; it is therefore part of a circular economy where the waste man- agement and recycling infrastructure allows it to be widely collected, recycled and reused. Unesda members will deliver their vision through these three equal pillars of circularity: Collect : Striving to achieve closed-loop collection of beverage packaging supporting:  Creation of closed-loop beverage packaging collection and recycling systems to accelerate achievement of the target of at least 90% collection of all its packaging by 2030.  Wider introduction of well-designed Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) for PET, aluminium cans and other materials when 90% collection by existing extended producer responsibility systems is not achievable. Recycle: Using only packaging that is circular by design and boosting uptake of rPET in beverage packaging to deliver:  By 2025: Beverage packaging (plastic, metal, glass) will be 100% recyclable; all soft drinks PET bottles will contain a minimum average of 50% rPET.  By 2030: The ambition is for PET bottles to be made from 100% recycled and/or renewable material if technically and economically feasible – thereby moving away from fossil fuel sources. Reduce and reuse: Reducing the sector’s packaging footprint and increasing the use of refillable packaging:  Aiming to use more refillable packaging by 2030 compared with 2020.  Studying the best environmental and economic pathway to increase use of refillable models. The sector intends to continue investing in recycling tech- nologies to improve their efficiency and financial performance. By combining mechanically recycled PET, enhanced recycled PET and renewable PET it is possible to reduce the carbon footprint of packaging and deliver products in a safe and sustain- able packaging. Europe’s soft drinks industry fully supports the EU ambition of making Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and building a European circular economy, including packaging circularity. To deliver its vision, Unesda points out that the sector will need coherent support from EU authorities and national gov- ernments including:  A long-term perspective and legal certainty as well as pro- tecting the single market.  A well-functioning secondary raw materials market that gives the soft drinks sector access to sufficient high quality rPET in order to meet its obligations under EU law, without com- promising on safety standards and avoiding downcycling.  Increased investment in waste management and recycling infrastructure.  An EU framework enabling innovative recycling technologies.  EU minimum requirements for new DRS across Europe.  Clear definitions of recyclability that foster innovation and investment. www.unesda.eu PETinar: EU Plastics Strategy and its impact for the PET value chain ASK THE EXPERT: Dr Rana Pant from the European Commission will give a detailed overview of the Implementa- tion of Directive EU 2019/904 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (SUPD) and Essential Requirements in Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD). - April 22nd, 2021 at 2pm Central European Time - PETINAR